(CNN) - The CNN Political Ticker is live blogging the CNN Arizona Republican Presidential Debate in Mesa. Check here for live updates throughout the event and be sure to follow @PoliticalTicker, @CNNPolitics and use #CNNDebate.

10:11 p.m. ET - Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer tells Borger the debate made it harder for her to choose a candidate to endorse. She said Gingrich's answer on immigration was strong, particularly his pledge to work with governors of border states.

10:09 p.m. ET - Watch CNN National Political Correspondent Jim Acosta in the post-debate spin room here.10:06 p.m. ET - Ron Paul told King his foreign policy was "definitely a different policy" from his competitors. "I'd say the young people who come to see me, that's their biggest issue, war and spending."

10:04 p.m. ET - Ron Paul to John King: "When I'm polling against the Democrats and independents, I do better than the rest, and the Republican party claims they want somebody to win."

9:58 p.m. ET - CNN Chief Political Analyst Gloria Borger asked Santorum about his attacks on Romney centering on earmarks: "I think the governor is just misinformed, and just making points that are falling flat."

9:56 p.m. ET - John King closed the debate and said goodnight.
9:51 p.m. ET - Question to the candidates about the biggest misconception about them as candidates.

Paul said the biggest misconception was that he couldn't win a general election against President Obama.

Gingrich wanted people to know the work he put in on welfare reform and balanced budget as House speaker.

Romney said he had the background and skills to be president, but did not offer a misconception he thought voters held about him.

Santorum also did not offer a misconception but said he was the candidate best positioned to win against President Obama.

9:49 p.m. ET - Read a transcript from the first part of tonight's debate here.

9:44 p.m. ET - Romney cited the strong performance of schools in Massachusetts during his tenure as governor, and said teachers' unions had too much power over education policy. Said kids needed to be put ahead of unions.

Gingrich echoed Romney's criticism of teachers' unions, saying power needed to be invested back into local districts and parents. Said too much attention had been paid on teaching "self esteem."

9:42 p.m. – @PeterHambyCNN: Santorum on national TV just now: I voted for something I didn't believe in for nakedly political purposes

9:42 p.m. ET - Question from the audience about the education law No Child Left Behind
9:39 p.m. ET - Gingrich said he would create a new American energy policy that would reduce dependence on oil from the Middle East.

Romney said America needs to work with allies in the region to force Syrian President Assad to step down.

9:37 p.m. ET - Question about how candidates would deal with Syria.

Santorum said Syria was a puppet of Iran, and a destabilizing force in the region. Said Obama's dealing with Syria revealed a "timidness" that is also evident in his dealing on Iran.

9:34 p.m. ET - Paul took a markedly different stance on Iran, saying there was no proof yet they had nuclear weapons. Said he didn't want Iran to have nuclear weapons, but that American involvement needed to be taken with care and under Constitutional guidelines.

9:33 p.m. ET - Santorum said he agreed with Romney, and reiterated the stand that Iran must not develop nuclear weapons. Noted a bill he sponsored in the Senate that would have imposed sanctions on Iran.

9:31 p.m. ET - Romney said President Obama's dealing of Iran was his "most serious failure." Said military options should not just be on the table, but should be in the hand.

9:30 p.m. ET - Gingrich said he would be willing to use American military force to preempt a strike on Israel from Iran. He said, "You have an absolute moral obligation to defend the lives of your people by eliminating the capacity to get nuclear weapons."

9:26 p.m. ET - Question from the audience: How would you deal with the possibility of Iran developing a nuclear weapon?

9:25 p.m. ET - Paul struck on his anti-war platform, saying the men didn't need to be serving in Afghanistan, much less women.

Santorum said we needed to reexamine the best roles for anyone serving in combat.

9:19 p.m. ET - Read a transcript from the first part of tonight's debate here.

9:12 p.m. ET – Candidates were asked about Florida Sen. Marco Rubio's statement that some conservative rhetoric on immigration is "harsh" and "intolerable."

Gingrich said he couldn't be sure what comments Rubio were talking about but slammed President Obama for a speech he made in El Paso that Gingrich called "totally demagogic."

9:11 p.m. ET - Romney said he advocated an e-verify system and said he would complete a border fence. Romney said he would drop federal lawsuits against states with tough immigration laws.
9:09 p.m. ET - Gingrich said he supported building a fence along America's southern border. Said he would move Department of Homeland Security personnel from Washington to border states like Arizona and Texas.

9:07 p.m. ET - Paul said more needed to be done to secure the border and enforce current immigration laws. Said President Obama had failed to enforce laws, leading to increased illegal immigration.

Latinos make up 29.6% of Arizona's population, and are an important - and growing - voting bloc in the state. In the 2008 general election, Latinos constituted 16% of the electorate, up from 12% in 2004.

In 2008, Latinos favored Barack Obama over John McCain by 15 points, 56% to 41%.

9:03 p.m. ET - Romney defended his tenure as governor, saying he balanced the budget even after his health care law went into effect. Santorum hit back, saying it was his job to balance the budget and it wasn't a legitimate achievement to campaign on.

9:01 p.m. ET - Santorum went after Romney for his Massachusetts health care plan, saying it was a model for Obamacare.
8:59 p.m. ET - Romney hit Santorum for voting for Title X, which included provisions for family planning. Santorum said he voted for it because it was a large appropriation bill but that he opposed the contraception measures.

8:57 p.m. ET - Gingrich said Romney refused to exempt religious institutions from a requirement to provide health insurance coverage for contraception during his time as Massachusetts governor, saying "When you have government as the central provider of services, you inevitably move towards tyranny because the government has the power of force."

8:38 p.m. ET - Santorum said the government effectively shut down the airline industry after 9/11, but that the auto industry wasn't shut down by the government. Said the comparison was apples to oranges.

8:37 p.m. ET - Romney said he thought companies needed to enter a managed bankruptcy process in order to best recover. Said he supported the airline bailout after September 11, just like Santorum.
8:35 p.m. ET – Santorum said he thought market forces should have been allowed to determine the fate of the auto industry. Slammed Romney for his position on government bailouts, saying "I beleive in markets, not just when they're convenient to me."

8:34 p.m. ET - Question from CNNPolitics.com: Why was former President George W. Bush wrong in his efforts to save the auto industry and why was Barack Obama wrong to continue the effort?

8:32 p.m. ET - Paul said Congress has become irresponsible in spending money by attaching funding measures to unrelated bills. Said it was the responsibility of members of Congress to vote against spending bills they don't support.

8:28 p.m. ET - Romney mocked Santorum, said he didn't follow his last answer. Said he would ban earmarks altogether and that Santorum voted for the 'bridge to nowhere.'

8:26 p.m. ET - Santorum asked if there were any earmarks he regrets making during his time in Congress. Said there were always votes former senators regret, but that some of the spending he secured was good for his state. Said the system was broken.

8:24 p.m. ET - Gingrich said Romney had taken the right step today in his tax reform plan.

8:23 p.m. ET – @AriFleischer: The fact that Romney hasn't repeated his line about being a "severe" conservative tells u he shouldn't have said it the 1st time.

8:22 p.m. ET - Asked about his statement he was a "severely conservative" governor of Massachusetts, Romney said he was severe and strict. He noted his balanced budgets and tough immigration laws.

8:20 p.m. ET - Santorum defended his votes in Congress, saying he was voted the most fiscally conservative member of Congress and that his voted to reign in entitlements were risky politically.

8:19 p.m. ET - Paul continued to hit Santorum: "I find it really fascinating that when people are running for office they're really fiscally conservative. When they're in office, they do something different."

8:17 p.m. ET – @EWErickson: Ron Paul sitting next to Santorum. A bit awkward. But Ron Paul does it with a humor Santorum has trouble mustering. #CNNDebate

8:17 p.m. ET - Asked about his criticism of Santorum as a "fake," Ron Paul says: "He is a fake!" Santorum, seated next to Paul, said "I'm real, I'm real!"

8:15 p.m. ET - Answering the question about the national debt, Gingrich pointed to his record of balanced budgets as House speaker. Said the debt would never go down if the unemployment rate doesn't improve.

8:13 p.m. ET – @jimacostacnn: Santorum points out Romney was asked about raising debt ceiling earlier this summer and he said he would.

8:13 p.m. ET - After criticism from Romney, Santorum defended his record on spending votes during his time in the Senate. Said he took on entitlements and never voted to raise taxes. Santorum hit back at Romney by saying he raised taxes as governor of Massachusetts.

8:12 p.m. ET - Romney said he would go through the federal budget and find programs that weren't worth borrowing money from China to fund.

8:09 p.m. ET - Santorum said we need to reduce spending on entitlements, and repeal Obamacare. He said, "If you think defense spending is the problem you need a remedial math class."

8:08 p.m. ET - Question from audience: What would you do to bring down the national debt?

Paul: I am the defender of the Constitution, the defender of liberty.
Santorum: Here to talk about a positive solution to country's problems.
Romney: I want to restore America's promise.
Gingrich: I've developed a program for American energy.

8:05 p.m. ET - Camera panned across candidates during the National Anthem. Romney and Santorum were voicing the words.

8:04 p.m. ET - The Arizona State University Symphonic Chorale sang the National Anthem.

8:03 p.m. ET - John King introduced the candidates onto the debate stage.

8:01 p.m. ET - Watch the video open to tonight's debate here:

8:00 p.m. ET - John King opened the CNN Arizona Republican Presidential Debate.

6:30 p.m. ET – From @StreitfeldCNN: Mitt Romney relaxed by the pool at his Mesa hotel this afternoon, turning his face to the sun as he lay back on a pool chair. He was joined by his son Craig and his family, who went swimming. Romney wore a button-down shirt and slacks at the pool.

soundoff(1,144 Responses)

Ken

All four of you believe in limited government, but all four of you have also spoken in favor of the government intervening in the ability of gay people to get married. If gay people find a church in which to marry, is it the role of government to validate some churches over others?

February 22, 2012 08:06 pm at 8:06 pm |

Bill Horcher

What income level low and high, would you describe as "Middle Class"?

February 22, 2012 08:06 pm at 8:06 pm |

Maryanne B

For Santorum: Why does he think he has been anointed to tell me what to do with my body?

February 22, 2012 08:07 pm at 8:07 pm |

russ scott

senator santorium how can you possibly be a president for all of the american citizens with your view on the gay pople of this country

February 22, 2012 08:07 pm at 8:07 pm |

Sam G

QUESTION FOR GINGRICH
Why did you donate significantly less to charity as compared to the other candidates? Specifically, Mitt Romney and President Obama.

February 22, 2012 08:07 pm at 8:07 pm |

Arash

All the four GOP candidates endorse strong belief in moral and religious values and have made strong opinions about matters that oppose those values. What would be their rationale for not fighting the pornography industry which is freely run in the United States? Why would not they ban it?

February 22, 2012 08:07 pm at 8:07 pm |

Dave Chesling

Would any of you support a balanced budget amendment?

February 22, 2012 08:07 pm at 8:07 pm |

Robert

The clown car pulls into Arizona (in their latest pit stop on their national tour.)

February 22, 2012 08:07 pm at 8:07 pm |

PTC Bernie

To the candidates;
I am very concerned that your attacks on each other are jeopardizing the Republican Party's chances of defeating Obama this fall.

PLEASE, be more constructive!

February 22, 2012 08:07 pm at 8:07 pm |

JayJay from NJ

Candidates, if ultimately you were unsucessful is securing the nomination of your party, which fellow candidate would you support against President Obama?

February 22, 2012 08:08 pm at 8:08 pm |

Wayne from Houston

Is it fair that our soldiers gave their lives, blood, limbs... add that to the sacrifices made by their families, and for the rest of America, not only did the country not fund the wars but add them to the national debt, plus by way of the Bush tax cuts, be in effect given a bonus and no other sacrifice at all?

February 22, 2012 08:08 pm at 8:08 pm |

Carla

for Newt Gingrich: What would you do or say right now to the leaders of Israel over the mounting tensions they are facing with Iran?

February 22, 2012 08:08 pm at 8:08 pm |

C Morey

With all the cuts in the defense budget and the "got to do more with less attitude" that service members have been stuck with in the last few years. What do you intend to do for the families that are left behind for 8-16 months at a time to help others and yet get paid so little that they qualify for welfare?

The candidates all say they will repeal Obamacare I want to know what they will replace it with

February 22, 2012 08:08 pm at 8:08 pm |

Vicki Wear

How do you make a living when insurance premiums are so high, and employment health insurance goes up , no cap on the premium cost to employee, why not one health ins, for all, young, elderly, disabled, etc. please help people with this problem?

February 22, 2012 08:08 pm at 8:08 pm |

Lama nasry

What do you think of what is going on in Syria .If you were president what would you do to help?

February 22, 2012 08:08 pm at 8:08 pm |

alex sabbagh

For all:

Do you believe startup businesses are the engine to economic growth and what will you do as President to make sure financial institutions start lending money to startup businesses?

Here is the senerio: Bush Tax cuts are expiring at the end of 2012. Congress is unable to agree on a compromise. As President what will you do? If the Tax cuts expire as a middle class American I will be destroyed by the Alternative Minimum Tax! Will you let my taxes go up if no compromise?!

February 22, 2012 08:08 pm at 8:08 pm |

Clay

My question: Does the President have to be Christian?

February 22, 2012 08:08 pm at 8:08 pm |

Vele Tosevski

What are your views on the Republic of Macedonia's entrance into NATO?

February 22, 2012 08:08 pm at 8:08 pm |

Anonymous

How would you improve education to catch up with the countries ahead of ours?

February 22, 2012 08:09 pm at 8:09 pm |

Mary

I want to know what Republcans are going to do about OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES.....

February 22, 2012 08:09 pm at 8:09 pm |

Patrick in Saratoga

I understand that the candidates oppose gay marriage but are for civil unions/equal rights for all gay couples. Does this mean the candidates will make and effort with Congress to amend the Federal Social Security Act to allow civil-union/same sex partners to receive Social Security Survivors' benefits?

Does it also mean they will support a change in the Federal Tax Code to allow for Joint Filing of Federal Taxes?

February 22, 2012 08:09 pm at 8:09 pm |

Farmer Tom

I spent 21 years in the US Air Force and 4 years as a DoD contractor. I've seen more waste in the US government than I would have ever believed. What, SPECIFICALLY, are you going to do to increase efficiency and effectiveness across the federal government? Don't tell me what about deleting whole groups. I want changes across the govt to become more cost-effective.